CFP: Erotic Ritual in Literature and Film (2/20/06; 4/9/06-4/10/06)

"Erotic ritual in literature and film/Literature and film as erotic ritual"The God & Sexuality Conference on Religion and Issues of Sexuality and GenderTheme: Ritual Practice and Sexual ExpressionApril 9th-10th, 200613th St. Gay and Lesbian Center, New York Cityhttp://www.godandsexuality.org/

This panel will explore the uses of erotic ritual in literature and film,as well as the ways in which the viewing of literature and film on thistopic might itself serve as a transformative ritual for its audience. Wewill consider literature and film within their historical and culturalcontext, with the understanding that writing about erotic ritual oftenarises out of existing ritual practices, and that literature and film mayalso act as missionizing tools for the practices and values they portray.Areas for the examination of erotic ritual in literature and film include,but are not limited to:

Marriage, rites of passage, and sexual initiationDiscipline of the body and Christ as beloved in cloistered communitiesHawthorneLawrenceYeatsDragBDSMAlternative religions in science fiction and fantasyThe Rocky Horror Picture Show

We especially encourage papers that demonstrate the relevance of portrayalsof erotic ritual to larger cultural concerns about gender, spirituality,organized religion, and sexual expression.

Please send 200-word abstracts by February 20, 2006 to: Christine HoffKraemer, chk_at_bu.edu or Dept. of Religious and Theological Studies, 145 BayState Rd., Boston, MA, 02215. Apologies for the short notice!_______"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindlea light of meaning in the darkness of mere being." --C.G. Jung